But we already knew that machines have more sense that some of us
“Man Butt Dials 911 During Drug Deal” — Maybe some of you saw this headline last week. It seems that a 24-year-old Pennsylvania man was involved in negotiations when his phone decided to call 911. And of course, it happened in an area with crystal clear reception. Can you hear me now? Yes, we can. After tracing the call back to his home, the police found all kinds of drug-related substantives and paraphernalia. And by the way, he was also high. Oops.
Closer to home, did you hear about the Oconee County jail guards that got busted for hitting on a 23-year-old female inmate? Apparently they got pretty explicit with her, and then sent her texts and friend requests on Facebook. We’re not sure what they were thinking, but of course this all got back to the sheriff. After pulling her phone out of evidence and quick examination of Facebook, two Oconee County deputies joined the great fraternity of men that have lost a job because of a woman. Congratulations!
Everyone, please take a note, especially the stupid people. Technology does not make anything or anybody better or worse. It only amplifies what is already there.
iPhone 5 Rumors — September 12 appears to be the date for the iPhone 5 announcement and the start of pre-orders. Everyone is hoping for a significant refresh of the device, and the rumors seem to indicate that changes are coming. One of the most exciting rumors is an increase of the screen size to a 4-inch screen from the current 3.5-inch screen. This will keep the iPhone on par with the leading Android phones on the market. Also rumored are a larger battery, smaller SIM chips and possibly true LTE wireless connectivity. The new feature that will probably have the greatest impact, however, will be a new 8- or 9-pin connector, replacing the ubiquitous 30-pin connector that has been around forever. For you that means every iPhone related accessory and connector will need to be replaced.
Or maybe someone in TAG Augusta will seize upon the start-up opportunity to build an adaptor. Who knows…
Cybersecurity Act Fails in Senate — A few weeks ago, I wrote about proposed cybersecurity legislation that was making its way through Congress. This proposal would greatly increase the ability of companies to monitor private communications and pass that data to the government. In short, the bill used the pretense of internet security to allow sharing of “cybersecurity threat indicators” without fear of retribution or litigation. While there were few if any privacy provisions within the original bill, several very strong privacy provisions were added over the course of the debate. Senators Al Franken and Rand Paul were leaders in the fight to protect online privacy. Ultimately, liberty and privacy rights won, as the bill did not receive the votes necessary to end debate. We should all thank Georgia Senators Chambliss and Isakson and South Carolina Senators DeMint and Graham as they voted for liberty and privacy!
Unfortunately, there is a group of folks in Congress that is hell bent on passing an online security bill that attacks the privacy rights provided in the Constitution. Keep checking back each week as I will keep you informed of the latest attempts to take your liberty.
Until next time, I’m off the grid @gregory_a_baker.You Might Also Like:
